Clew, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Clewedp. pr. & vb. n.Clewing.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See Clew, n.] 1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread.
Direct and clew me out the way to happiness.
Beau. & Fl.
2. (Naut.) To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the yard.
To clew down(Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines. — To clew up(Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling.